I gave this at the Starr
King Unitarian Universalist of Hayward, California for Independence Day, 2017.
One person’s patriot is
another’s traitor
PATRIOTISM OR BLIND
OBEDIENCE?
Yes. It’s what we on this side of the ocean call
“Independence Day.” Known in England as
“The Day the colonies ran away from home.” So Let’s all rally round the
flag. That particular song was used to
inspire the north during the American Civil war. It is one manifestation of
patriotism. To some the be all and end
all definition is: “My country right or
wrong”…or even worse, “My country is
NEVER wrong.”
There
are few words in the English Language with as many meanings as the word
‘patriotism.’
Throughout
history, so many have used this ambiguity to suit their own purposes…and those
purposes have not always been noble ones.
And the manipulations surrounding the word didn’t just start last
year. It has been with us since before
the inception of this nation, and the manipulation perseveres with those who
write history.
Before I go on, I’d like to differentiate
between “patriotism,” and it’s relationship to the concepts of “Right and
Wrong.” I think it’s important, at least
for today, to do this. Soldiers are
almost universally thought of as “patriotic.”
Whatever side they may be on, they should believe in. So, while the term “patriot” should be
appropriately applied to both sides in war, the judgment of “right” or “wrong”
is usually left to the winners in the short term, and by historians for
posterity.
And
of course, declarations of war are not the sole province of the word. I think that in the broad and imprecise
definition of “patriotism,” a lot of what we consider very dark and evil
motives may be the object of the word.
Are North Koreans patriotic? How
about all those other regimes we decry?
For that matter, what about those willing to kill and BE killed whose
allegiance is to organizations like ISIS? Americans who would stifle free speech, or
those who feel we should be guided by their religious principles, I believe, would
and do consider themselves “patriots.”
Others, with opposing views, likewise wear the mantle of patriotism.
If
one is willing to look beyond the rhetoric surrounding the various wars in
which this country has been engaged; past those self serving inflammatory
descriptions, ‘good war,’ ‘bad people,’ ‘freedom fighters,’ ‘traitor,’ and of
course that rousing word; ‘patriot,’
Of
course, patriotism is not an emotion only manifest during times of conflict.
But
sadly, it is during times of war that the term patriotism is most stressed and the citizenry most
prodded towards whatever is the current definition during those wars.
And
we certainly have had more than enough wars, declared or not, to supply anyone
wanting to pick and choose one or more to write about; to comment and to critique…the
justification or lack thereof…the results…the cost of lives and treasure as
opposed to the expected (or hoped) for results.
Most of all…the motives, rationales, or just plain excuses given to wage
war. All those and more can be wrapped into that cloak we call patriotism.
And
there so many…so far too many. I think
we might be able to justify some of our excursions, and maybe even the use of
the word “Patriotism” to support them. I
was a young kid during world war two…Patriotism was almost universal in the
fight with Nazi Germany. How many
Germans perished in the cause of their patriotism? Were Japanese pilots who knowingly flew
certain suicide missions patriots? Certainly voluntarily giving ones life for
ones country must be inspired by patriotism. Who were the patriots during the
war with Viet Nam? Was it the people of
that country who had decided upon the way they had chosen to live, or was it my
country’s government which was supporting a despotic family of elites whose
only association with us was that they were not communists?
I
was in Cuba during the brutal dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. My government felt it was my patriotic duty
to defend that regime. The people of
Cuba felt differently. Who were the
patriots? Who the traitors? How can a U.S. Citizen be a patriot when the
citizenry of a country not his or her own demands change?
But
today I’d like to talk about the two wars of independence waged on this
continent. Yes; our TWO civil wars and
the way those who write history have treated them. And how the definition of who were patriots
and who were just misguided fanatics.
These
two revolutionary wars had much in common.
Allow
me to describe the justifications given for these wars. In both cases, dissatisfaction with the
prevailing government was the trigger.
Allegations of unfair imposition of taxes and regulations stirred the pot. Interference with prevailing cultures helped
raise the temperature. And in each case one portion of an established way of
life was being challenged.
And
yes, when searching for a noble cause worth sending soldiers to die for, all
one had to do was find any morally plausible justification, and to trigger that
noble feeling known as patriotism. In
both cases, YES, BOTH! The enslavement
of human beings provided some, but decidedly not all, of the rationale.
Some
British Colonists were feeling oppressed by the central government in
London. American products were being
cheaply exported to England, and conversely British goods coming to North
America were becoming more and more expensive because of high import
taxes. So, was the Boston Tea Party the
real and singular cause of the revolution?
Or was part of the uprising due to England, finally heeding the commitment
to human rights outlined and hailed in the Magna Carta beginning to threaten
the slave based economy of the Colonies?
Whatever the reasons, there were three distinct sets of opinions in
North America. We WERE a part of the
British Empire. A large segment of our
population felt loyal patriotism to the King…they were LOYALISTS, and their patriotism was to their
government. As always, there were those
who either had no opinion, or chose to remain silent. And, as we know, there was a group of rebels
who determined that, whether their reasons were valid or just self serving, it
was time to secede from the British Empire.
(We now refer to that latter group as ‘the founding fathers,’ and in what many at the time considered an act
of treason, that particular war was triggered.
Were the colonists who were loyal to the established government of
Britain patriots? Or were the rabble
rousing disloyal rebel British subjects the true patriots? What about the thousands of British Soldiers
who died for their country? Well, as Winston
Churchill said, “History is written by the victors,” and we all learned in
elementary school who were the true patriots, and who were not. And when the bombs ceased, and the British
surrendered, there was a foundling nation in the Western Hemisphere. And among other consequences of that war, our
noble founding fathers were able to take a deep breath, secure in the knowledge
that they would be able to keep their slaves.
And they did so for another ninety years.
So
the years passed, and the northern part if the United States of America was
becoming a fledgling world economic and manufacturing power. At the same time, the south was providing
much of the agricultural bounty required to not only feed a good portion of the
country, but to furnish the raw materials the north needed to fuel the emerging
manufacturing behemoth of the north. And, not unlike the British policies to
the colonies, it was the North that dictated the prices paid to the South for
the raw materials. And, many, especially
in the North, were calling for an abolition of slavery…which would further
effect the economy of the South.
So,
of course, just as the Colonists had done in 1776, citizens of a country
determined that it was no longer tenable to remain with the established
government. And in less than a century,
for a second time, a portion of the established nation seceded.
Depending
on your mindset, both of those wars were either to preserve a legitimate
established government on the one hand, or to fight for freedom of oppression
on the other. The causes of those wars
were similar. The stated rationale for
them nearly identical.
So,
who WERE the patriots? American history
seems to have it both ways. The British
subjects who finally overthrew their government and established a new nation
are now listed as “patriots.” What about
the British Loyalists who wished to preserve the Empire? Round one: Rebels win. Loyalists lose. Rebels: patriotic. Loyalists cruel.
The
Civil War, in spite of the similarities of purpose, is treated somewhat
differently. Who WERE those
patriots? The preservers of the
established government? Or the Confederate
States seeking to break from the Union?
Again; History is written by the victors. Unionists, PATRIOTS…Rebels TRAITORS.
While as an American Citizen, I must say that
I am a somewhat distant and remote product of those two wars, whether we call
them both REVOLUTIONARY wars or CIVIL wars.
I think Both could be easily labeled as either.
But
what of those who participated? On
either side? My conclusion is that those politicians and generals and foot
soldiers not only CONSIDERED themselves patriots, but they by definition were
patriots. They were true to a cause and
proud of the cause. It is easy to
simplify, as did that Civil War Battle Song we sang a few minutes ago, and to
vilify the “other side.” But in
comparing the two, both were unquestionably wars of independence. No matter how they turned out, and no matter
how the fiction of written history treats them, that’s what they were.
I
think that to relegate the word patriotism into the sole sphere of
nationalistic pride, especially in time of war, is to overlook the many forms
which true patriotism takes.
Those
who know me would never suspect me of being what is often called a “super
patriot.” That term has been pirated by
those who’s motto is “My Country Right or Wrong,” or “We are the moral standard
for the world,” “Proud to be an
American,” “America First,” or, yes,
“Let’s just rally round the flag.”
I
guess I think of patriotism differently. I am very happy, and I think fortunate, to
have been born and lived my life in America.
I don’t think I can necessarily say I’m PROUD to have had that experience…
I had nothing to do with the random confluence of time and geography which
enabled that to happen.
If
I have reason to be proud to be an American, it is because of the things this
country is able to do, and the good it contributes to the planet upon which it
and we reside. And sometimes it is easy
to overlook the positive contributions my country has made.
But
to me, true patriotism is not just being immersed in the justice and humanity
of America. No..to me Patriotism is the
willingness also to see the flaws. And
importantly, to make the effort to correct those flaws. If one is to have patriotic pride in our
nation’s good works, isn’t it our individual responsibility to rcognize and to
attempt to right the wrongs? It has
taken another hundred years and still counting to atone for the moral pestilence
of slavery. Yes…still counting. The remnants are withering but not gone.
I
grew up during WW2. This country was
united in patriotic fervor during that conflict. And we were encouraged to view our enemies,
not just the GOVERNMENTS, but their citizens as barely human, and to be deeply
vilified as sub human; all in the name
of patriotism. I wonder what would have
been the reaction of someone had predicted in 1943 that in less than 100 years
our closest allies would be Germany and Japan?
For
me personally, I don’t think I ever had as intense a feeling of patriotism as I
did that day just over eight years ago
when our first African American President was sworn in. My chest swelled with pride that day, and I
felt like announcing to all the naysayers in America and around the world; “YES WE CAN! WE HAVE OVERCOME! SEE WHAT THIS
NATION CAN DO! My chest swelled with
pride.
Eight
years later…Same words, different reaction. SEE WHAT THIS NATION CAN DO! My
sense of patriotism has turned from pride and euphoria to resistance and sadness. But while it has taken on new form and
meaning, it still IS patriotism.
I
never have been comfortable with the phrase “My Country Right or Wrong.” But I am now much clearer as to why.
We
have, in the name of patriotism, done many things which to make us deserving of
the word. I don’t think it’s wise or
productive to forget those deeds. And
while war seems to be the magnifying glass which focuses that emotion, If we
look back at our history by any objective standard, what we viewed as
patriotism and national pride in many cases has turned out to be something far less
deserving of those lofty accolades. And
if in fact that WAS patriotism, and we excuse ourselves for having been
manipulated, how can we then be willing to ascribe evil motives to what others
did in the name of THEIR patriotism?
And
as UU’s who believe in our seven principles, do we assume the absolute right to
question the motives of those who are of other minds? Are we that all knowing and more, all self
righteous to make those judgments?
I
have come to the very presumptuous conclusion that if patriotism to a cause or
a country or to a creed or religion is to have value, that result is not
accomplished through mindless acceptance.
Blind obedience it the antithesis of true patriotism. Critical thinking, rational evaluation
and protest: All are necessary elements of the true
manifestations and exercise of patriotism.
The
concept of ‘patriotism’ is an extremely plastic one. The very idea conjures positive and
comfortable feelings. But it is those
very attributes that make the word susceptible to manipulation…especially in
time of war or real or perceived national peril. And we see it constantly. Buzz phrases like ‘America First,’ ‘Illegal
Immigrants .’ or ‘Radical Islam’ take what may be a tiny yet real problem and
engender a combination of Nationalism,
fear and hatred. I think that the
true patriot will challenge and resist those false calls to irresponsible
action. I hope so.
I’d
like to close with two famous quotes from our founders. I’ve selected these because they made me
realize just how conflicted those men must have been. Both seem to recognize that the colonists
were taking the risk of going down in history as traitors to their country.
At
the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Franklin said; “We
must, indeed, all hang together, or, must assuredly, we shall all hang
separately.” Did Franklin’s words
acknowledge that in signing that in document called the Declaration of
Independence, they were about to commit treason?
We
all know that Thomas Paine was a prime voice in favor of the revolution, In
1775 Paine penned those words: “These are the times that try men’s souls. The Summer soldier and the sunshine patriot
will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that
stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of men and women.”
Couldn’t
those stirring words be equally applied to the British Loyalist as
appropriately as to the rebellious colonist?
Further
evidence that Paine might have been experiencing some inner confliction, he also
wrote several letters to King George of England, and signed them; “Your friend,
enemy and countryman.” Am I the only one
who senses that Paine might possibly be questioning his own enthusiasm for the
revolution. But that’s probably just me
over thinking it.
.
So,
Anyway, as we prepare to celebrate the birth of our nation once more, I beseech you: Enjoy the fireworks..fly the
flag…listen to the stirring music…incinerate to taste unhealthy, chemically
enhanced food. Don’t drive drunk..buckle your seat belts. It’s the PATRIOTIC thing to do! And of course……..
RALLY
ROUND THE FLAG!
